Press Release: On-line gambling: European Commission welcomes France’s decision to open its gambling market and closes infringement procedure

The European Commission has ensured that French citizens will have access to a wider choice of duly authorised on-line gambling services as a result of the changes made to France's laws on on-line gambling, November 2010. The Commission has therefore closed existing proceedings against France. It had previously taken the view that France's restrictions on on-line gambling activities affected foreign operators and were disproportionate to and not consistent with the objective sought, thereby breaching EU rules on the freedom to provide services.